A New Generation of IFB Megachurches???

[TheOldJudge]

https://www.attendmbc.org/

Maranatha Baptist Church in Bethany, Oklahoma, was a medium-sized church of several hundred members until 2018. After their elderly minister died, Allen Domelle assumed the pastorate. The church is now rapidly approaching (if it has not already surpassed) 1,000 individuals in weekly attendance. Pastor Domelle is leading the church to construct a massive auditorium complex that will be able to hold more than a thousand people, and he has expressed the desire that the church eventually build an even larger auditorium as the growth of the congregation necessitates further expansion. Maranatha, at Pastor Domelle's request, started the "Old Paths Baptist College" last year as a ministry of the church.

This ministry is the latest of a handful of independent Baptist ministries that are assuming "mega-church" proportions and are beginning to manifest a desire to build "ecclesiastical empires." For all of you veteran Fundamentalists on these forums, would you say that this trend is merely an echo of the phenomenon of the 1970s and 1980s, or could we see a repeating cycle of IFB megachurches across the country?

 

[Marooncat79]

Bigger and larger barns

 

[Marooncat79]

This is not the time to be wasting money an enormous amount of money on such

keep what you have go to 2-3 services. Split 2 groups of 150-200 off in each and start 2 additional churches seems to be the best option to me

JMO. Which is worth nothing

I’m an old fat white guy and nobody listens to me anyways

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Don't build megachurches. Plant new ones.

 

[Silverhair]

We attended a vibrant church, had a great outreach to the community, etc. Then it was decided that the church should move to a new and bigger location. Grew to approx 2500 but then slid back to about 1000 -1100. Has now become a very woke, sensitive church that really does not seem to have any direction. It seems like the word of God is now more of a suggestion, I mean why upset people. I have watched their live feed a couple of times to see if they have gotten over the wokeness but sadly no.

Note I said we attended that church but not anymore. When a church leaves the word of God then it is time to leave that church.

 

[Salty]

This is not the time to be wasting money an enormous amount of money on such

keep what you have go to 2-3 services. Split 2 groups of 150-200 off in each and start 2 additional churches seems to be the best option to me

Even starting with a group of 50-75 would be fine for a church plant - esp - if those are in a similar geographical area.!
People who drive 45 - 60+ miles to church are NOT attending a local church!

Their county has a population of 800,000......

 

[Salty]

https://www.attendmbc.org/

... Maranatha Baptist Church in Bethany, Oklahoma, ...

Well, Old Judge - your thoughts about what Marooncat, Martin and I stated?

 

[Salty]

If you are a missionary and looking for support - one question is:
"what is your feeling concerning the Southern Baptist Convention?"

I guess if you are American Baptist - you must be okay

 

[Marooncat79]

Very difficult to get appointed there

very

 

[Jec81]

Very difficult to get appointed there

very

How about the BBF?

 

[Marooncat79]

How about the BBF?

Is that the old baptist faith missions?

 

[Bible Thumpin n Gun Totin]

Agree 100% with what everyone else stated here. Once a Pastor can't establish a meaningful relationship with each member (to me that is at least knowing the general idea of what is going on in everyone's lives, their jobs, families ,etc) it's time to split.

It's fine for associate Pastors split the flock up and focus on them, but the lead Pastor should still at least know everyone.

 

[poor-in-spirit]

Indeed, the continuous spreading out of churches from neighborhood to neighborhood, community to community was the example given us all in the New Testament. God's Way was decentralization focusing only on following Christ. Rome's way is centralization and the building of nicolaitan "man-empires" focusing on the "big shot" in the pulpit and not Christ.

God's Way was to protect doctrine with allot of independent pastors instead of one man centralizing doctrine himself. The allure and love of mammon (in all its forms) always corrupts and I do mean always.

 

[AVL1984]

If you are a missionary and looking for support - one question is:
"what is your feeling concerning the Southern Baptist Convention?"

I guess if you are American Baptist - you must be okay

What are yours, Salty? My wife and I are members of a small, SBC-associated church. Is there something wrong with that?

 

[Salty]

What are yours, Salty? My wife and I are members of a small, SBC-associated church. Is there something wrong with that?

That's what I was asking! Why does that questioner ask if you are SBC?

 

[AVL1984]

That's what I was asking! Why does that questioner ask if you are SBC?

I know most in the IFB movement have a totally false belief and dislike of anything SBC because this round peg doesn't fit into their square hole! I just lambasted a bunch of IFB people on another site for passing false information about the SBC having to pay homage to a hierarchy, which, of course, is as far from the truth as Satan is from going to Heaven for eternity. It shouldn't make any difference. They're doing the work of the Lord whether those in IFB churches like it or not!

 

[Jec81]

Is that the old baptist faith missions?

Baptist Bible Fellowship

 

[Salty]

I know most in the IFB movement have a totally false belief and dislike of anything SBC because this round peg doesn't fit into their square hole! I just lambasted a bunch of IFB people on another site for passing false information about the SBC having to pay homage to a hierarchy, which, of course, is as far from the truth as Satan is from going to Heaven for eternity. It shouldn't make any difference. They're doing the work of the Lord whether those in IFB churches like it or not!

When I talk to IFB - many are surprised when I say the SBC has no control over us.
Some think, we have to use Lifeway - (NO-we dont) and other such convention related activities. Our retired DOM would like to say that SB are more independent that IFB!.

I also explain that in the past, I have been a member of GARBC churches, as well as IFB - so I have been on both sides.

The best example I can give is - in our association - a pastor divorced his wife to marry the church secretary. Our DOM and executive went to talk to the church and pastor. Well, they did not see a problem. Since we could not forced the pastor to resign, Our Association did the only thing we could do - we dis-fellowship that church. BTW - within two years- that church folded.

 

[AVL1984]

I'm about to be thrown off a site because on of the moderators and one of her cohorts from Canada are always bashing the churches associated with the SBC. They try to misrepresent the churches as under a hierarchy, lie about the missions programs, then say we're forced to associate with churches who teach heretical doctrine, etc. I've defended the churches in the SBC showing how they are as independent as the IFB churches, yet, these "Christians" don't accept that, even though they've never even been inside an SBC church or studied them at all. I find this all to common in Christian circles...lambasting anything that doesn't fit with their pet positions and doctrines. It's one thing that has driven many in my family away from church and away from the Lord. It's a shame.

 

[George Antonios]

When I talk to IFB - many are surprised when I say the SBC has no control over us.
Some think, we have to use Lifeway - (NO-we dont) and other such convention related activities. Our retired DOM would like to say that SB are more independent that IFB!.

I also explain that in the past, I have been a member of GARBC churches, as well as IFB - so I have been on both sides.

The best example I can give is - in our association - a pastor divorced his wife to marry the church secretary. Our DOM and executive went to talk to the church and pastor. Well, they did not see a problem. Since we could not forced the pastor to resign, Our Association did the only thing we could do - we dis-fellowship that church. BTW - within two years- that church folded.

True, most IFBs think of SBs as a denomination on its own.